understanding opportunity and risk
| Home | Downloads and articles | |
minimising future risk creating sustainable advantage creating opportunity
LIBYAN PRISONER RELEASE August, 2009
Out of all the articles ever written for Alt3 - and read by the many across the entire world - this is the one article that demands to be written. And yes, to some it will prove to be controversial.
At the outset I must make clear two basic points:
1. terrorists must be pursued by all means possible and prosecuted to the full extent of the law
2. a strong and vibrant USA is an essential component for the world as we know it and the world as it will be
However, just as was discovered centuries ago (and disputed for a long time) the sun does not revolve around the Earth and the Earth is not at the centre of the universe. Likewise the world does not revolve around the needs and demands of the US, and certainly the US is not at the centre of the universe.
Determining global trends over the course of a number of years has allowed us to come to the conclusion that the US does not understand the world. This is one reason (not the only one) why the world is in a mess and will continue to experience turmoil for some time to come. The US has yet to realise that being a true leader in the new world developing means more than simple reliance on economic or military might. The US does not need to look for an enemy - it needs to look for friends.
The new world developing runs on collaboration and this relies on perception. Collaboration is essential. It is essential for global business, for the struggle against climate change, for the fight against the menace of terrorism, among others. Collaboration is essential for global stability, growth and progression. Entwined as we all are ... collaboration demands consensus ... and this really is based on perception, communication, mutual trust and benefit.
Without it we have very little indeed.
The release of the Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi from a Scottish prison has also released a previously unheard of diplomatic exchange between the UK and the US. While the anger from the families of the victims of the bombing that brought down Pan Am 103 onto the Scottish village of Lockerbie all those years ago is very, very understandable (I was in the air at the time of the crime and so can understand the fear and shock), the response from some in the US administration is far from understandable.
Al Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds. He has weeks to live. Stepping aside from the issue of the evidence that convicted this man of the terrible crime, or indeed even if Libya was involved and there was not another finger on the trigger, the concepts of "mercy" and "compassion" are strong in Scottish culture - and quite rightly so. For the Americans to express anger on behalf of the victims families is understandable. For the American Administration to question the validity of justice in the world is surely beyond belief. I don't really want to drag up a whole list of facts and dates, but how about starting a recent war that cost the lives of tens of thousands based on what some may term ... not quite the truth?
Hmm ... yes, people in glass houses ... etc, etc, etc.
Change the perception.
What we have is a world of "us" and "them" - and it is reaching a very dangerous state. The Muslim world views the west largely in terms of unjust, ungodly devils out to steal everything. The west views the Muslim world as largely being extremist barbarians who destroy everything in its path and even train their children to be suicide bombers. As positions become even more polarised, even more hardened to the extremes, just what are we to do? Are we to continuously look for even more incredible weapons and even more deadly means of delivery? Or are we to take a little step forward to at least show we are willing to break down the barriers that exist? In a world of mad extremists (on all sides) the voices of moderation have clearly been swept aside. It is time to gather your voices and make them heard for moderation, to turn away from the ever damaging philosophy of extremism.
This is not about appeasement. It is about trying to find a way to turn from the megaphone diplomacy and entrenched hatreds that inspire the ever increasing cycles of violence and recrimination.
This will entail difficult decisions. Decisions such as allowing Al Megrahi to be released to Libya (Libya who has found it is in its interests to turn away from extremism to moderation) - and show there can be little steps forward to break the barriers and allow common ground on which to base mutual understanding. All for a safer world. Mercy and compassion are strong in Scottish culture ... as they are strong in other cultures, and will be recognised by many moderates in the Muslim world as a merciful and compassionate act towards a dying man and his family, so perhaps, just perhaps there is now more ground upon which the moderates can make a stand against the extremists. More ground for dialogue between people.
Indeed, this is a world of "us" and "them" - but it isn't Islam against the world. It isn't the west against Islam. It is the battle between those who wish to progress with mutual understanding, and yes, compassion, and those who can easily find reason to destroy, and scream about it at the tops of their voices while burning flags and spreading hate. This battle is a battle in every land and no one is immune. Those of us who believe in progression must find one another and help each other where ever possible, even if it means taking difficult decisions such as releasing a prisoner on the verge of death. Where is the justice in that? It is in the prevention of many, many more being needlessly murdered or maimed or tortured. How many more grieving families do we want to see?
I suspect quite strongly that in a few months or a few years, we will look back at this time and see the release of Al Megrahi for what it was ... a turning point in relations ... if the US can see the world as more than a cause for indignation. We should be working towards a greater plan. Releasing Al Megrahi was a good thing. This is all about perception and, believe it or not, we have taken a small step forward in changing that perception ... and so changing the future.
Regards
JS
If you don't understand the risks, how can you prepare? Can you afford to let the issues be blurred?
The turbulent 21st century
life isn't black and white